Half to rice orgain



(No Model.)

J. L. GLENN,'J1-.

LAGING EYE.

Patented Jan; 4,1898.

WYTNESSES @4 5. @mayw;

NITED STATES PATENT Enron.

JAMES LYLE GLENN, JR., OF GLARKSVILLE, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- IIALF TO RICE ORGAIN, OF SAME PLACE.

LAClNG-EYE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 596,584, dated January 4,- 1898.

Application filed July 6, 1897. Serial No. 643,577. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it kn own that I, JAMES LYLE GLENN, Jr. a citizen of the United States, residing at Clarksville, in the county of Montgomery and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lacing-Eyes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the in vention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to lacing-eyes for lacing boots, shoes, &c., and has for its object to provide an efficient,inexpensive,and easilyapplied lacing-eye which will permita free running movement of the lace or string therethrough without liability to cause wear and tear of the lace by contact with projecting ends or sharp angles, as is the case with 1acing eyes or hooks of the usual construction, and which at the same time may be firmly attached and held in place on the shoe-vamp without liability of being wrenched therefrom or tearing the leather when subjected to great strain in use.

The invention will first be hereinafter more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and then pointed out in the claim at the end of the description.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a shoe having aseries of lacing-eyes thereon embodyin g my invention, with the usual lace or string for securing the edges of the vamp together in the usual manner. Fig. 2 is a View similar to that shown in Fig. 1, showing the string untied and the shoe open, so as to illustrate the free running movement ofthe lace through the lacing-eyes in the act of inserting or withdrawing the foot. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view through a portion of the shoevamp, showing one of the lacing-eyes secured thereto, the said section being taken on the line III III of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view illustrating one of the lacingeyes attached to a detached portion of the vamp; and Fig. 5 is a detail showing an intermediate plan or top view, and a perspective View at either side thereof, of one of my improved lacing-eyes in different positions.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar letters of reference are used to denote corresponding parts in different views, I have shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a number of my improved lacing-eyes applied to a laced shoe, the lace (marked-A) being tied in Fig. 1 and loose in Fig. 2. In the latter figure a foot is indicated in dotted lines as being withdrawn from the shoe in order to illustrate the free running movement of the lace through the series of lacing-eyes to permit the vamp-sections to be readily opened or spread apart.

In Figs. 3, 4-, and 5 I have illustrated in detail the construction and mode of attachment of a lacing eye embodying my invention, which I will now more particularly describe.

B denotes the lacing-eye, which is formed from a predetermined length of wire of suitable size by doubling the piece of wire upon itself, then bending the doubled parallel por- 7o tions backwardly, so as to form an eyeb to receive a lace orstring, and then bending each member of the doubled portion outwardly from the base of the eye, as at b, to cause said members to diverge sufficiently at the base of the eye to receive between them the end b of the part forming the'eye proper, and the free ends of said members are then bent downwardly, or at an angle to said divergent base-portions b, so as to form two prongs b for attaching the lacing-eye to the vamp of a shoe or other article to which it is to be applied. By this construction I provide a simple and inexpensive lacing-eye which is free from the objections incident to the use of lacing eyes or hooks of the usual construction, in which sharp angles or projecting ends of the eye or hook are liable to catch onto the lace or string and wear and tear the same, as well as prevent the free running movement 0 thereof in lacing the shoe or removing the shoe from the foot. As will be seen, the described construction presents no sharp angles or edges or projections to engage and tear the lace or string, and the spreading apart of the vamp to permit the insertion or withdrawal of the foot is made easy by reason-of the free running movement of the lace without liability to hitch or catch onto a projecting portion, and in use (the lacing-eye being attached as shown in Fig. 3) the strain is exerted directly over the point of attachment and as nearly as possible in a direct line with the strain upon the part to which it is attached, so as to provide a firm hold without liability to cause the lacing-eye to be wrenched or pulled out or to tear the vamp or article to which it is applied.

I am aware that lacing hooks and eyes have heretofore been devised in which the hook or eye is formed from a single piece of wire bent into proper shape to form an eye, with prongs for attaching the hook or eye to the vamp of the shoe or other article to which it is to be applied, and hence I make no broad claim to such constructions.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-- A lacing-eye for boots and shoes comprising a single piece of wire doubled upon itself and having its doubled portion bent to form an eye having continuous parallel adjacent members; said members being bent out-.

wardly at the base of the eye so as to form divergent portions with prongs springing there from at an angle thereto; the backwardlyturned end of the doubled eye portion terminating and resting at the base of the eye between said divergent portions, Which form a guard therefor, to prevent said terminal from presenting aprojection to catch or engage the lace or string; whereby the lacing-eye is provided with a Wide attaching-base and a narrow eye having one terminal free but guarded by said attaching-base, so as to present no angle or projection to prevent the free running movement of the lace or string, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I aftiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES LYLE GLENN, JR. Witnesses:

O. D. R NYON, L. A. GOLD. 

